I am now on my fourth 7x57. After looking back through my reloading journal I see that the 4 least accurate rifles I have ever worked with are these 4 7x57s! What's the deal???

Do any of you have an honest 5-shot MOA sporter weight 7x57?

Maybe I just can't shoot 7x57s...

My 7x57 is a Mauser 96 action with a Pac-Nor barrel which is light sporter weight. This rifle shoots right at 1" for 5 slow fire shots. 10 Shots go into a 1.5" circle. Maybe its the loads you are using or the die set. This catridge does take, IMO, a little work to get to it shooting to a good accuracy level. Until I tried H414 powder, I could not get sub 1" groups.

BigBullet

Nope, it's just you!!

Actually, most factory barreled/throated 7x57's aren't the most accurate out of the box, and I've always blamed it on the long throats required by the old slab-sided 173/175 grain RN ammo that you sometimes run across (but no handloader I know of actually uses). To get anywhere close to the lands, a typical 140/154/160 pointed bullet just about has to be seated out of the case, which doesn't help accuracy any by causing inconsistent neck tension. The 280, for comparison purposes, has a rep for fine accuracy, and, 280 throats are typically nowhere near as long as the 7x57's.

I've played around with 4 7x57's now, a Ruger 77, two Rem 700's, and my current one, an M70 Fwt, and none of them would AVERAGE under 1" for 5 shots. Sure, you'll get the occasional sub 1" group, then the next few can't back it up. Fortunately, anything that's fair game for the 7x57 doesn't require varmint rifle accuracy, so, I just accept that fact, and, as it has for the past 100+ years, it gets the job done with a minimum of fuss.

I must say that the M70 has me intrigued, though -using 150 W-W Power Points, it's been under 1.25" enough to make me think it just could get down there if I fooled around long enough.

I had the Ruger re-barreled/throated for 140 Noslers at 3.060", and THEN it would really shoot, even putting Norma's hot 150 grain factory loads under 1" routinely, but, that's not really a fair comparison.

R-WEST

I had a Ruger 77 that would do 1.75" all day. could never get it any better.
sold it.

For some reason I never had good case life with it. the brass would show small cracks around the web after three or four firings. I only neck sized, but discarded the brass after two firings.

I have a M70 Featherweight in 7x57 just shot it today, it did it's typical groups 2 bullets touching, and the 3rd an 1 1/4" away. I would never try 5 shot groups with such a lightweight barrel, biggame rifles should shot 3 shot groups period.

I guess I'm uncool because I use ONLY 175 grain bullets in my 7x57 and I prefer RN's to spitzers and I run them at about 2450 fps. The older I get, the slower I go and the slower I load my handloads. And the rounder me bullet tips get! I did shoot up some S&B 173 grainers I got a good deal on. I may never run anything lighter through it! Oh well.....

Oh yeah....my CZ550 7x57 shoots about 1.25" for 5 shots off the bench at 100 yards.

Good Hunting,

[ 11-15-2003, 02:43: Message edited by: ACRecurve ]

Interesting ..... I have two 7X57's, but have never shot either of them. However, I have a bone stock Swedish M96 6.5X55 (has been D&T and 4X scope mounted) that will group 3 shots into 1/2" with 44 grs. of RL19 & 140 gr. bullets (100 yds.)all day long with the military stock. I'm surprised about the 7X57's mentioned above ..... I had great expectations for my two new 7X57's (Ruger 77 and #1).

My 275 Rigby (7x57) is on a vz24 action, 24" Douglas barrel, Timney side safety trigger, B&C stock. Last weekend it shot 8 (eight) S&B 173 gr. load rounds into just a shade over an inch, sitting, with sling, at 100 yds. I'm sure it would do better if it was being bench rested. It also likes the Hornady 154 gr. bullet in handloads.

I'm not sure why you would need a sporter weight 7x57 that shoots that well for 5 shots however. I actually try to shoot fast pairs to see where they fall and can normally get around 1" depending on how I'm feeling that day. I'm so slow these days that I don't think I could get off 3 shots before a deer was out of sight.

I have a custom built 7x57 that can do a 0.3 inch three-shot group(all touching) with federal 140 grain pro-hunter bullits from their classic line. It has a Lilja barrel.

My 7x57 rifles have always been .750- 1.25 rifles for three shots, I hardly ever shoot a 5-shot group anymore. On the other hand, I don't make a great attempt to develop sub-moa. handloads with it, I'm using good hunting bullets, Nosler partitions mostly. It's always been a hunting rifle and when I get a good velocity, decent groups with a good bullet, I'm done on the bench, all shooting from then on is offhand, sitting, etc. The end result is I don't think it tends to be a one-hole cartridge, and for me neither has been the .257 Roberts.

While I like my 7x57 it has been the most finicky rifle I have owned. It will shoot one particular load consistently into an inch for three shots but generally it is usually a 1 1/8 to 1.5 inch grouper which is fine as it always puts the first shot right where it is aimed and holds zero year in and out. All that said I have put more rounds thru this rifle than any other looking for that "magic" load.

I must be Real Lucky as I Have both a Win XTR FWT and Ruger 77 that will shoot 1" groups regularly,3 shots that is not 5.
Mostly 140 gr Partion's and Sierra Pro Hunters with serval different powders.

[ 11-15-2003, 09:04: Message edited by: Tiny ]

Do any of you have an honest 5-shot MOA sporter weight 7x57?

There are two residing in my gunsafe at present that will regularly do this.

My 275 Rigby is based on a Yugo 24 intermediate action and has a 22 inch,"GASP", medium sporter weight Shaw barrel on it with a long throat and a 1 in 9.5 inch twist. It is stocked with a piece of English walnut in the "Europeon classic" style and is topped with a Leupold M8-4X scope. With a healthy dose of RL-22 and a Nosler 150 grain Solid Base bullet in Winchester cases it is hard to make it group more than one inch at 100 yards. Velocity is always right at 2850 FPS with this combination. It is one of my most favorite rifles.

The second belongs to the other half. It is also her most favorite rifle. It was given to her by a good friend of mine who died from cancer several years ago. She was his favorite nurse at the clinic where he took treatments and he wanted to give it to her to remember him by.

It is based on a 1903A3 Springfield action made by Smith Corona and sports a 22 inch Shilen #1 barrel with a 1 in 9 inch twist. It is stocked with one of Reinhardt Fajen's "Horizontal walnut laminate" stocks in the "American classic" style and is topped with another Leupold M8-4X scope. It uses a healthy dose of IMR 4350 and the same 150 grain Nosler bullet in Winchester cases. Velocity for this combination in this rifle is right at 2800 FPS which used to upset my friend to no end because it was a bit slower than mine. However this rifle will group five of these at less that two inches at 200 yards as well as keeping them under an inch at 100. It is probably a bit more accurate than mine, but I like mine better because a 7X57 should be built on a 98 Mauser.

7x57 Groups

Click on the above and you'll see what a 7x57 will do. I agree that seating the bullets out to the lands is important. I also have a Ruger #1 that is as accurate as my Brno's. At first I had some accuracy problems, but put lots of upwards pressure on the barrel and the groups settled down to well less than an inch.

I happen to own a CZ 550 American in 7x57mm Mauser and it is very, very accurate. The rifle barrel has a 1x8.66 twist and is 23.6 inches long. I shoot Hornady SSTs in 162 grain configuration only. I also have some 160 grain Nosler Partitions loaded. My powder is H414. I have the barrel freefloated, the action glassbedded,plus some other things which should not affect accuracy at all, such as refinished stock and jewelling on bolt. My load is 48.9 grains of H414 in Remington cases, Federal 210 primers. The 162 grain SST is long enough to seat the bullet .01 inch off the lands of the barrel and still have enough bullet left over to fit into the case neck. The overall length fits into the CZ magazine just fine. COL is 3.295 inches, which seems inorinately long for a 7mm, but keep reading. I do not shoot five shot groups, just three shots. Why, cause if I cannot hit my game with one shot then I'm having a heck of a bad day. If I cannot hit the game in three shots, then I really should not be out in the wild to begin with. Anyway, with 48.9 grains the bullet has an average of 2,855 fps. The three-shot groups go from .481 inches, must most are smaller, in the .431 range. I shot one group, and one only, which went .216 inches. With the 160 grain Nosler Partition and loaded with 48.3 grains, at 2,815 fps, this load gives me .62 inch to .75 inch groups at 100 yards. Have a nice day! Tom Purdom

I had a BRNO 600 that was an honest MOA rifle with Remington, Federal and S&B factory loads. I foolishly sold it. I now have a BRNO O/U 7x57R (173gr) that will put 3 shots from the lower barrel into .8" at 50yds with open sight and my old eyes. The upper barrel is @ 1" away and 1" groups for 3 shots. It ain't MOA but it's OK by me for a double rifle.

I have never seen a Brno 21 or 22 that wouldn't shoot 1.5 inches at 100 and most will do much better..Mine shoots under and inch with 130 and 175..It has the longest throat I have ever seen on a 7x57 and that pretty well shoots down the long throat theory...

Yep! Got two. Both Rugers. One a M77, the other a No. 1A. I also have an M1924 FN Mauser Venezuelan Army rifle with a 4X scope that will shoot ten rounds into about 0.8" all day (all these using 175 grain Nosler bullets loaded in front of a heavy charge of RE22, Rem. cases, and Fed. 210 primers!!) This 1924 is too heavy to be called a hunting rifle, though!!

quote:

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Click on the above and you'll see what a 7x57 will do. I agree that seating the bullets out to the lands is important. I also have a Ruger #1 that is as accurate as my Brno's. At first I had some accuracy problems, but put lots of upwards pressure on the barrel and the groups settled down to well less than an inch.

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JudgeG

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Judge! Very nice shooting!!

[ 11-16-2003, 22:04: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

I had a Heym SR20 that could put 5 bullets in the one hole.

I sold it. BIG mistake.

I HAVE A M700 CLASSIC IN A BORDEN RIMROCK STOCK AND A LEUPOLD 1.75-6 SCOPE,, STEADY 1" OR LESS RIFLE.. IT LOVES 140 BALISTIC TIPS BUT I GAVE THEM UP AFTER A FEW BAD FAILURES NOW I LOAD ROUND NOSE 154 HORNADY'S WITH 48.5 GR OF H4350..I HAD PLANNED TO USE IT THIS YEAR AS MY SWAMP GUN BUT TRADED INTO A 35 WHELEN M700KS WHICH I HAVE BEEN USING

Must be lucky as mine will go .734 (with Nosler 120 BT and 46.5 grains of H380) and .8 (with 140 X Bullets and 52.5 grains of Reloader 19). 175 grain Nosler Partitions went 1" with 42 grains of H380.

I have a Remington Classic that shoots under an inch at 100 yards with either the Hornady 139 grain or the Nosler 140 Ballistic tip. I guess I got lucky. The 16 deer I've got with it aren't!

Bob257

I have a 7x57R that shoots like a dream, as long as it doesn't get warm. First and second shots are utterly consistent and the holes touch each other more often than not, third shot makes me want to cry... That one is a real bad flyer.

But this is a combination rifle and I have yet not had an opportunity - or need - to fire a second shot in one single hunting situation using that rifle.

I use the 7mm Norma Oryx bullet, a bonded 156-grainer.

Regards,
/HerrBerg

9.3:

I had trouble getting my 7 x 57s to shoot worth a darn until I learned that they were all long throated.

Then after seating the bullet out just short of touching the lands, the accuracy really tightened up. In my two Rugers, switching to 40 grains of IMR 3031 for any bullet weight, the groups really tighten up.

The ONLY 7 x 57 I have trouble with is a Winchester Featherweight. No matter what I shoot in it, ( all handloads), whatever hole the bullet makes in the paper on the first shot, is all I get!!! I have no idea where the others go.

The first hole just keeps getting a little bigger each shot, and that is it. Must have something to do with throat erosion, hole erosion, or something??

I can't even make a bullet touch the lands in my 7x57R - it's absolutely ridiculously long throated. But as long as it shoots like it does, I won't cry myself to sleep over that matter.

/HerrBerg

I have a Mark X. When I got it, I loaded up some right out of the box new Remington brass with 154gr RN Hornady bullets and about a 95% load of H414 with a standard primer. The first 5 shots from a clean bore went into 1.25" at 100yards. And the following groups, from a fouled bore, went within 1". I figured why fix what ain't broke so I put it up as I had other rifles that needed tinkering with.

I have a Mauser 96 action, 24' walther barrel,timney trigger @ 2 lbs.. Load is winchester brass, 48 gr. H414, Fed 210m primers, 140 gr. nosler partitions, Cartridge OAL at 3.065". Shoots 1" 3-shot groups.
GWB

I have a Ruger M77 in 7x57. The only thing I ever shot trough it was Federal ammo and it was very accurate.

My 7x57 is an 09 action with 24" shihlen #2/3 and a 6power scope. It shoots 139gr hornady BTSP into .5" for 3 (never shoot 5 shot groups) and 175gr swift A frames into .75". Unfortunately it won't shoot 140gr partitions worth a damn.

I have a old model 93 mauser in 7x57 it shoots the 140 gr. remington factory into 2in. at 100 with open sites. That is off a rest, but I know it would go to an inch if it was scoped. but I could not tell you why it likes these bullets. I can shot better with my 6.5x55 swed, but those things are sweet to shot. LLB

[ 11-19-2003, 00:54: Message edited by: Littleloadingblock ]

My 7x57 was built on a vz24 action I had bought for 45 bucks with the bolt handle already modified. I bought a new short-chambered 7mm barrel from Sarco for $39.00, had it shortened to 24 inches, chambered and fitted. It is all in a hardwood Interarms (I believe) stock bought at a gun show and bedded to fit. I built this thing for the heck of it. It too would put two shots nearly touching then throw the next one out. A bit of bedding compound just back of the forend tip solved that.
This beater will hold minute of angle right out to three hundred yards with 47 grains of H4350 and Hornady 139 gr bullets. That is mild load and I don't know what the velocity is but it shoots close to the BallistiPlex reticle calibration for standard cartridges (.30-06, .308 etc.) to 300yd. Nosler 140gr bullets have grouped slightly larger so far.